How do I choose my focus students?
The answer will probably surprise you.... in most cases, you really don't choose focus students. I'm going to explain. (This blog post is not for Early Childhood, SPED, or PE.)
First, let's address a few huge misunderstandings people have when they begin the edTPA.
Some people think that they need to choose focus students at the beginning (completely wrong for most of you).
People think they choose focus students by picking a high achieving student, an average student, and a low achieving student. (Wrong again. You'll learn today that your focus students are chosen for different reasons.)
People get themselves all wound up about the suggestion by edTPA that one of your focus students have a specific learning need.
Let's be clear:
The only handbooks that require you to choose focus students before you begin on Task Three are Early Childhood and SPED.
It may work better for PE to choose focus students before recording Task Two. PE will want video footage of their focus students.
All other handbooks: You do not choose Focus Students until Task 3 and there's a very important reason for that!!! Keep reading!
This blog post is for all handbooks except Early Childhood, SPED, and PE.
What's the point of having focus students?
There really isn't a point because you aren't really choosing students - you are choosing work samples.
For most handbooks, you are going to be choosing work samples that illustrate a learning pattern. Then you will name the work samples Focus Student 1, Focus Student 2, and Focus Student 3. Task 3 really isn't about the students - only the assessment results and the samples.
In other words, for most handbooks, you aren't really talking about the actual kids, you are talking about three work samples.
The most important thing you need is good evidence. Make it a priority to choose work samples that give you good evidence to discuss in prompt 1c of Task 3.
I address this in my blog, Work Samples & Feedback, but since there are still so many questions, I am going to attempt to clarify once more! So let's break it down.
STEPS TO CHOOSING FOCUS STUDENTS
These steps are for all handbooks except Early Childhood, SPED, and PE.
Do not think about this until you have taught and recorded your segment and you have given your assessment.
Give the assessment for Task Three.
Go through the assessment and look for learning patterns or trends.
Choose two or three learning patterns. Make sure at least one pattern is about something that some or most of the class did right and make sure that at least one is about something some of the students got wrong.
Choose one work sample for each learning pattern that you have identified.
If one of those work samples comes from a student that has an IEP, 504, or has any other specific needs then will help you meet what the handbook directs. But sometimes this doesn't work and that's okay. I'll talk more about that later.
Name the work samples
Focus Student 1 (which should represent one of your learning patterns)
Focus Student 2 (which should represent a different one of your patterns)
Focus Student 3 (can represent a third pattern or can be your student with learning needs.
"But, Mamaw, that's not what my professor said to do."
I respect the expertise of academic faculty... within their area of expertise. No one has a PhD in edTPA! Would you also take advice on auto mechanics from your professor as well? Of course not. You'd be looking for someone with specific training and experience.
I have seen many well-meaning professors give incorrect information and advice on the edTPA.
What edTPA Handbooks say:
The snip below is from the Elementary Literacy with Math Task 4 Handbook.
All of the handbooks say something very similar. Look at your own handbook on the first page that explains Task 3 under the heading What Do I Need to Do?
FAQ: Must I pick a student that's got a specific learning need as one of my focus students?
Short Answer: You are supposed to but you don't have to. I explain this in this video. Watching this video will save you some stress.
All of the handbooks say something like:
"At least one of the focus students must have specific learning needs, for example, a student with an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or 504 plan, an English language learner, a struggling reader or writer, an underperforming student or a student with gaps in academic knowledge, and/or a gifted student needing greater support or challenge.
But consider...
The Task 3 commentary template never asks you to identify which student is the one with a specific learning need.
The Task 3 commentary prompts do not ask for you to describe any specific learning needs other than the needs that become apparent during the assessment.
None of the rubrics for Task 3 include any criteria that require you to identify a student with specific learning needs.
There are no condition codes given for not choosing a student with specific needs. Please check here for all condition codes.
Based on all of that... here my advice:
Mamaw's Advice:
Focus on choosing work samples that
give you something to talk about,
help you make your argument that specific learning patterns are present, and
if you can pick the work of a student with specific needs, then do it. If you can't, don't worry about it.
Other advice about work samples:
Choose work samples that are from the same assessment. For example, if you differentiated for some of your students, then try to choose the work samples that are of the same type. There is a condition code associated with having work samples from different assessments and you don't want to get tripped up here.
Work needs to be individual work. (no partners, pairs or group work)
You cannot use student self-assessments or peer assessments.
These must be actual, authentic work samples. A checklist or a rubric that you use to evaluate the work is NOT a work sample.
A work sample may be a document but it could be a video or audio clip or audio files.
Find out more about Analyzing your Assessments.
https://youtu.be/3O71K6K3jaI?si=C6ZLbbuDJc7XZ8zM
Find out more about choosing Work Samples.
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Don't let edTPA Stand in Your Way!!!
Mamaw Yates
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